Mail delivering and receiving apparatus.



C. C. BROWN. MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIWNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED-DEC. a, 1915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8,1915- Patented May 23, 1916.

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C. C BROWN.

MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED DEC.8,1915.

Patented May 23,1916.

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6. 6. Brown, Q/vi h/mooco v CHARLES 0. BROWN, 0F ROWLETT'S, KENTUCKY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed December 8, 1915. Serial No. 65,827.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CrrARLns C. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at l'dowletts, in the county of Hart and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail Delivering and Receiving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. I

The present invention contemplates the provision of a mechanism for delivering and receiving mail bags or the like at stations while the train is in motion, the primary object being to provide a mechanism of this character which is durable, positive and efficient in operation.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure l is a perspective view showing both the car carrying mechanism and the station device. Fig. 2 is an end view, the car being partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a view showing the inoperative position of parts of the car mechanism to the station device. Fig. ft is a front elevation of the receiving fork and showing the discharge position of the bag carrying element. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the track and movable arm. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the tracks and adjustable arm partly in section showing the locking device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail 5 indicates the car which carries a part of the mechanism for the purpose of delivering and receiving mail bags at the station, while 6 indicates generally the station device that cooperates with the mechanism above mentioned.

Secured to the opposite sides of the car at points above the door openings therein, are spaced superimposed tracks 7, between which is slidably fitted the arm 8, the latter having journaled on one end thereof a roller 9 to facilitate the adjustment of this arm, while the opposite end of the arm projects through a suitable opening in one side of the car as shown. Fixed upon the outer end of the arm 8 in any suitable manner, is a duplex fork 10, the members of the fork being oppositely curved to provide flared entrance passages for the reception of the bag hangers 11 which are suspended from the station device as illustrated. The lower member of the fork is provided with the resilient elements 12 adjacent its opposite ends, which elements have one end spaced from the fork member and beneath which the hangers 11 are held to prevent casual separation of the bag from the fork when received by the latter. Secured to the fork 10 and depending therefrom is a suitable support 13, while journaled for free swinging movement upon the stud l4: projecting forwardly from the lower end of the support 13 is what I term a bag carrying member 15. This member can be of any suitable construction, preferably consisting of an elongated body provided with a finger 16 at each side thereof and upon which the mail bags to be delivered at the station are suspended by means of a suitable hanger 17 as illustrated.

VVitha view of maintaining the carrier 15 in an upright or operative position, so as to permit of the hanging of a bag thereon, I preferably make use of a leaf spring 18 having one end secured to the support 13 and projecting forwardly therefrom. The spring is so positioned with relation to the carrier 15 when the latter is in operative position, as to overhang the carrier and engage in a groove or recess 19 formed in the upper end thereof.

Arranged at a suitable distance from the track at each station along the route of the train, is positioned a post or upright 20, upon which is pivoted a lever 21, carrying at its forward end a substantially diamond shaped plate 22, from the opposite end or ends of which the hangers 11 of the bags to be received by the fork 10 are suspended. The lever with the plate normally assumes an upright position when not in use as clearly shown in Fig. 3, while projecting from the post 20 are the stop lugs 23 adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the lever in one direction and support the lever in horizontal positiontunder the-weight of the bags as will be readily understood. Projecting centrally from the plate 22 is a tripping element 24 adapted to engage the carrier 15 to reverse the position of the carrier from that shown in Fig. 1, to an inoperative position such as shown in Fig. 3 subsequent to the release of the carrier from the spring 18, which is effected in the manner to be presently described.

Now, it will be manifest, that as the train approaches the station, and the station device is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, thearm 8 isprojected through the opening in the side of the ear to inoperative-position, the arm being provided with one or more stops to limit the adjustment of the arm in this direction. Carried by the innermost end of the arm is a yoke member 26 embracing the track elements 7. and serves as a guide for the arm as the latter isadjusted to operative or inoperative position. When mail bags are adapted to be delivered at the station, they are hung upon one of the fingers ofthe carrier 15, it of course being understood that this element must first be locked in upright position by means of the spring 18 as clearly shown. As the train passes the station, the fork 10 is so positioned with relation to the plate 22 that the lower member of the fork passes through the hanger 11 removing from the plate 22 the mail bag carried by the hanger 11, As the train passes the station device, the spring 18 which projects a slight distance beyond the carrier 15 engages the 7 upper edge of the plate 22, and by reason of the inclination presented by this edge, the

spring 18 is released from the groove in the carrier 15, so that when the latter is struck by thetripping element 24 it is swung upon its pivot tothe position illustrated in Fig. 3, whereupon the bags to be delivered are dropped from the carrier to the ground simultaneously'with the removal of the bags from the plate. 22' to be taken on the car.

' It might here be stated that a suitable latch mechanism 26 operates to hold the arm 8 in either normal or projected'position.

Positioned. between the post 20 and the track, is a shield 27 which may be pivotally connected with the ground or surface in any suitable manner, and held in operative or inclined position by means of a brace 28.

The bags to be delivered at the station are dropped from the carrier l6'upon the shield 27, the latter serving to prevent the bags from being suckedunder the car.

iVhile I have shown and described what I now consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood thatI do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated, and that variousfchanges may Gamesiv t s. pat n ay e o tained for be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus comprising an arm normally positioned within a car and adjustable to be projected therefrom, a duplex fork carried at one end of the arm, means for holding said arm in inoperative or projected position, a pivotally mounted bag carrier positioned in advance of said fork, and having a groove in one end thereof, a resilient looking element normally positioned in said groove for holding the carrier in bag carrying position, a station device including a plate adapted to-be disposed in the path of movement of said resilient element and engaged thereby to effect a release of said carrier, and a tripping member carried by the plate for moving said carrier to a discharge position subsequent to its release.

2. A mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus comprising spaced superimposed track members arranged within a car, an arm slidably fitted between said tracks and adapted to be projected from the car, a roller carried by one end of the arm, means for guiding said arm in its movements, means for limiting the adjustment of said arm to projected position, means for locking said arm in either normal or operative position, bag carrying means at one end of the arm, and a stationary tripping element adapted to move said bag carrier means to a discharge position, and to support the bags adapted to be received by the fork.

3. A mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus comprising an arm normally positioned within a car and adjustable to be projected therefrom, bag carrying means on one end ofsaid arm and including a pivoted bag carrying element, a resilient arm cooperating with said element to hold the latter in bag carrying position, a station device including a plate adapted to support the bags to be taken by said arm, said plate having angular surfaces to be engaged by said resilient arm to effect a release of said element, and a tripping member carried by said plate for moving said element to discharge position subsequent to its release.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. BROWN.

Witnesses DRURY E. BROWN, SAMUEL ALBERT CLEWN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C, 

